November 9

We have fellowship one with another. - 1 John 1:7.

THERE is a fellowship belonging to all the people of God. Wherever they live, they are all “fellow-heirs of the grace of life;” they are all “partakers of the heavenly calling;” they are all in the same bond of the gospel; they are all interested in the common salvation, redeemed by the same blood, justified by the same grace, sanctified by the same Spirit, kept by the same mighty power of God, and destined to the same everlasting kingdom. Therefore, whatever distinctions may prevail among them, they are all one in Christ Jesus. But this is not the fellowship referred to here.

There is a fellowship existing between God and his people, and this is what John means here; there is a mutual participation,-a mutual intercourse; they “have fellowship one with another,” so that “in all their afflictions he is afflicted.” They feel pain when his name is dishonoured, and they are sorrowful for the solemn assembly; he rejoices over them, and they rejoice in him; he ennobles them, and they love to honour him; he is their God, and they are his people, and all that is his is theirs. It is by this that we are to judge of them, and not by their adventitious and external circumstances. The world often despises them, and they think very little of themselves also; but God prizes them.

Could we have seen the tabernacle in the wilderness, we should not have seen it externally very splendid; no, it was covered with goats’ skins, and the skins of badgers dyed red: but if we had entered-within, we should have seen there the tables of the law, the altar of incense, the mercy-seat, and the glory of God shining above it. So it is here. John says, “We have fellowship one with another;” “Our fellowship is with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ.”